Reflective drywall panel to reduce radiant heat transfer

ABSTRACT

The reflective drywall panel to reduce radiant heat transfer is a drywall panel constructed with a reflective surface on one side thereof. The reflective surface functions to reflect radiant heat waves into a space during heating season or away from the space during cooling season. The reflective surface is fabricated from a plastic-metal sheet having a shiny surface. The sheet is attached to the back side (stud side) of a drywall or ceiling panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/471,026, filed Apr. 1, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to building construction, andparticularly to a drywall panel having a reflective surface that reducesradiant heat loss or gain.

2. Description of the Related Art

The warnings from many scientists about the effects of global warmingcaused by the greenhouse effect, and the rising costs of fossil fuelsand electric power production, encourage the reduction of energy use inhomes and offices. It has been estimated that radiant heat flow accountsfor up to seventy percent of the heat loss or gain through the outerwalls and ceilings of building structures. This phenomenon increases theneed to burn fuels for heating or to utilize electrical energy forcooling. A wall or ceiling panel that would effectively diminish radiantheat loss or gain would thus lead to a reduction in the use of fossilfuels and/or electric energy. In addition to the monetary savingsinvolved, the lowered production of carbon dioxide gases would greatlyabate the cause of the greenhouse effect. Thus, a reflective drywallpanel to reduce radiant heat transfer solving the aforementionedproblems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The reflective drywall panel to reduce radiant heat transfer is adrywall panel constructed with a reflective surface on one side thereof.The reflective surface functions to reflect radiant heat waves into aspace during heating season or away from the space and into the ambientair during cooling season. This function allows a user to reduce theamount of energy needed to heat or cool the space. The reflectivesurface is fabricated from a metallicized plastic sheet having a shinysurface. The sheet is attached to the backside (stud side) of a drywallor ceiling panel.

Accordingly, the invention presents a panel that alleviates the effectsof heat flow cased by radiant waves. The invention provides for improvedelements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that areinexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing theirintended purposes.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specifications anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a reflective drywallpanel to reduce radiant heat transfer according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reflective drywall panel to reduceradiant heat transfer according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reflective drywall panel to reduceradiant heat transfer (gain or loss) is generally indicated at 10. Thereflective panel 10 comprises a conventional drywall panel 12 having aflexible, reflective sheet 14 mounted thereto. The reflective sheet 14is mounted on the backside or stud side of drywall panel 12. Thereflective sheet 14 is fabricated from a metallicized plastic materialthat presents a shiny surface, e.g., Mylar® (Mylar is a registeredtrademark of DuPont Teijin Films Limited Partnership of Wilmington,Del., referring to a polyester film developed by E.I. DuPont deNemours). The sheet 14 is preferably attached to drywall 12 withconventional adhesive. However, other means (screws, staples, tape,etc.) may be employed if deemed suitable. The sheet 14 is provided witha plurality of apertures 16 therethrough for venting and to reduceelectrical conductivity.

In use, as indicated above, reflective sheet 14 is attached to the backside of a drywall panel 12. The composite drywall panel is then securedto wall framing or ceiling studs S in a manner that is conventional inthe construction industry. This arrangement allows the reflective panelto assume a position to reflect radiant heat waves emanating from eitherinside or outside the building structure.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A reflective drywall panel adapted to reduce radiant heat transfer,comprising: a drywall panel having a front side and a back side; and asheet having a reflective outer surface attached to the drywall panel,the sheet having a plurality of apertures extending through the sheet.2. The reflective drywall panel to reduce radiant heat transferaccording to claim 1, wherein said sheet is attached to the back side ofsaid drywall panel.
 3. The reflective drywall panel to reduce radiantheat transfer according to claim 1, wherein said sheet is adhesivelyattached to said drywall panel.
 4. The reflective drywall panel toreduce radiant heat transfer according to claim 1, wherein said sheet isfabricated from a metallicized plastic material.
 5. A reflective drywallpanel adapted to reduce radiant heat transfer, comprising: a drywallpanel having a front side and a stud side; and a flexible sheetadhesively attached to the drywall panel, the sheet being fabricatedfrom a metallicized plastic material having a reflective outer surface,the sheet having a plurality of apertures disposed through the sheet. 6.The reflective drywall panel to reduce radiant heat transfer accordingto claim 5, wherein said sheet is attached to the stud side of saiddrywall panel.